On leaving Kean: An editor’s goodbye
By Daniel Reyes
It’s time for me to say goodbye.
After four-and-a-half years, numerous major changes and countless questionable collegiate decisions it’s time for me to walk away from this campus, this school and this paper.
It’s fitting that I’m writing this, my last note, so close to Thanksgiving, because believe it or not, this school has given me a lot to be thankful for including, but not limited to:
- This school being able to stay afloat long enough for me to graduate (that joke was too easy).
- All the opportunities afforded to me, by Journalism Professor Pat Winters Lauro specifically, and everything I’ve learned during my time here.
- The friends I made, especially on The Tower, who haven’t slapped me in the face for all the complaining I do.
- That Kean went through all these controversies when it did because it’s the reason I can sit here and tell you what I think and you have to sit there and take it.
I am a strong believer that this school is what you make it. If you don’t put yourself out there, and strive to do more, you’re going to have a bad time.
I think of this school like any normal family. We bicker, we don’t always get along and some of the food is questionable; but when it comes down to it, we’re just that…a family.
And really, for all the flack people give this school, complaining about this and that, this isn’t a terrible place to be. Every faculty member I’ve met, specifically within the Communication Department, has wanted only the best for this school and its students.
I’ve been fortunate enough to write for The Jersey Journal and work with The Star-Ledger on Election Night 2012. I had a New York Times copy editor compliment my headline writing ability to a room of more than a 100 college journalists from around the country. I’ve been on tours of The New York Times and CNBC and covered stories most college journalists dream of writing. I owe all of this to the faculty members at Kean University.
They are caring, patient and the best in the business and I couldn’t have done any of that if it wasn’t for the Communication Department and this school. I am proud to call myself an alumnus of Kean University.
It’s also with a heavy heart that I turn over the reigns of this paper. I set out to make The Tower my own when I became your Editor-in-Chief and I’m happy with what I got done. Next semester will bring about many more changes and I’m as excited to see them as you are; more than anything though, I owe this paper to all of my reporters and editors. They helped make it what it is now and I will be forever grateful for their help in showing this school what The Tower is capable of.
That’s all from me though. It’s been real Kean.
Your Editor-in-Chief,
Daniel Reyes